Top 30 villains in television history

Photo Credit: NBC

22. Ben Linus 

There are plenty of stories revolving around nerds turned into villains, but Ben Linus is one of the notorious. Lost had plenty of problems, but Michael Emerson’s portrayal of the disturbed Linus was not one of them. A staunch believer in the island and its secrets, Ben Linus would go to no ends to protect his newfound “home.”

Some of his more notable sins include sacrificing his own daughter, kidnapping, and murder. Yet, through all of this, he believes that he’s making a sacrifice that’s for the greater good.A character that was only meant to stick around for a short arc, Emerson’s intensity earned him a longtime stay on the controversial series.

Like any good villain, Emerson needed a strong actor to play opposite of and Terry O’Quinn delivered on this from. Linus and John Locke are two enemies who have a certain degree of respect for the other despite their problems. Even though he’s at a physical disadvantage compared to the other members of the island, Ben Linus makes up for it with his mental advantages.

Extremely cunning and manipulative, he’s often used to tricking people into getting what he wants. One of the more notable revelations about Ben is his ambiguous intentions throughout the series run. Is he a villain or just a good guy making hard choices? It’s definitely unclear but based on the way he used everyone on his time throughout the show, it’s safe to say that he makes it onto a list of best bad guys.